i-SaGAA 2012 Sucessfully Completed
Context
New and significant trends are emerging in the bi/tri polar discourse, especially in the wake of the landmark work achieved during the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-9. Diverse views of myriad nations on governance proposals - as to whether the poles needs a new treaty regime; on frontier research and exploitation of raw materials; on new shipping routes, on fishery development and more needs to be highlighted and consensus sought in political and scientific global meets. With changing climatic regimes and threats perceived therein it is now pertinent to look towards an amicable understanding amongst intellectuals of various nations. The debate that needs building up is whether the Law of the Sea and resource augmentation of lesser developed Nations can extend beyond the areas of national jurisdiction e.g. central Arctic Ocean. Will the interests of lesser developed countries be safeguarded and scientific cooperation achieved. The Conference on Science and Geopolitics of Arctic and Antarctic (SaGAA) reaffirms the need for concerted international dialogue regarding such and more inter-disciplinary issues pertaining to the polar regions.
What is the trajectory of future priorities for polar geopolitics and what are its legal aspects? What can marine science tell us about climate change? What implications do the changing geographies of sea ice have for polar geopolitics? How can international cooperation on polar issues be strengthened?
The International Conference on SaGAA in New Delhi, an outcome of an extremely
successful national level deliberation in January 2011, will focus on
these and many other related questions. Numerous experts from India and
abroad will attend the Conference on 9-11 March 2012. Supported by the
Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences and National Centre for Antarctic and
Ocean Research, Goa, India, the Conference is a continuation of a curtain
raiser national event held at New Delhi, which engaged with the momentous
changes underway in the polar regions and southern oceans.
